Review: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

in a sentence or so: Lucy is on a desperate search for the graffiti artist known as Shadow. she’s also the wingwoman for her best friend Jazz and has to spend the last night of year 12 with the boy whose nose she broke. luckily for Lucy, she’s getting two birds with one stone. Lucy is a unique artist from a quirky family. she finds solace in her psychic best friend Jazz and in the hobby-turned-creative-outlet of glass blowing. she can just tell that Shadow is the type of boy who will understand her and makes it her mission to discover his identity. she just never seems to be in the right place at the right time...Ed quit school to work part time, help his mom with the bills, and to continue painting his heart and soul onto crumbling walls. he feels like he’s not good enough, not smart enough, not typical enough for his ex-girlfriend Beth - and certainly not good enough for the for girl who broke his nose over an ass grabbing incident. after his mentor and boss dies, Ed searches for direction and meaning. between alternating chapters, we have the fabulous vantage point of being third person omniscient and knowing each thought, feeling, shift and change in Ed and Lucy. we are with them when they are reluctantly paired together for a night of shenanigans and wingman/wingwoman duties. we are with them when they start to have fun together at a party. we are with them when they start to share more about who they are with one another. we are with them when the sparks start. we are with them when those sparks turn into a flame that spreads more quickly than either of them anticipates...though neither one minds the heat. this is a story about Ed and Lucy discovering the true identity of each other over one crazy evening. the way they arrive to this discovery includes, but is not limited to, near nipple piercings, running over someone with a bike, sharing secrets and insecurities, holding hands, and laying on the roof of a pink van. what really brings this book home are the amazing background characters. between their friends who are on the crazy adventures with them, their artistic mentors, the crazy guy threatening to beat them up, and dysfunctional families, you can’t help but fall in love with Ed and Lucy individually and root for them to the very end. if you’re looking for that next great rush of captivating storytelling, slow-burn romance and envy-enducing artistic expression from characters with a lot to say, be sure to pick this one up. fave quote: "I missed him after he'd gone. I mean, it's not like the feeling he gave me stopped because he grabbed my arse. I spent the weekend after our date wishing I could stab him with my fluffy-duck pen and staring at the phone hoping he'd call. Dating is a very tricky business." (476 of 2345 on Kindle)fix er up: i really liked the Poet chapters (Ed’s friend, Leo) and would have LOVED to have a few Jazz chapters thrown in.

title: Graffiti Moonauthor: Cath Crowleypub info: Feb 2012, Knopf Booksgenre: Contemporary, Humor, Friendship[ftc notice: i received a copy of this book via Netgalley. i was not compensated in any way for this review. thanks, Netgalley!]

Lisa is a gamer, crafter, fangirl, mother, wife and unabashed nerd who is pretty ridiculous and it's best you know that up front. When she's not binge watching Netflix or crafting into the wee hours of the night, you can find her spending a lot of her time on Pinterest and
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11 comments:

I've heard amazing things about this book! Is it finally being released in the US or do we have it and I just couldn't find it? This book has everything I'm looking for :) Your lovely review just reminded me of that fact.

Such a great review, Lisa. I loved this book. A lot. I read it on the plane last month going overseas and I dog-eared a LOT of pages. I wish it was in my hands right now (I'm letting someone borrow it) so I could quote along with you. I loved the dialogue -- written so deftly quick and dripping with wit. I recall the moments when the girls gathered together in the bathroom and called it something...oh what was it called?! I loved it just when people TALKED to each other. Oh Cath, you and your genius ladywords.

Trish - it will be in the US in February. :)Ash - you will love this. i have no doubt. Ginger - the truth is i just LOVED the depth that the supporting cast brought to this story. Jen - oh believe me, AHHHHHHH!!!!! was how i started!April - i am stoked to see your thoughts on this.Tara - TOTALLY.Alexa - thank you! this really is a gem of a read.Capilya - YES the bathroom scenes were great! stalls? is that what you mean? the dialogue was fabulous.